Key details of the barbaric terrorist attack in Egypt.

The Egyptian army is urgently searching for those responsible for the bloody terrorist attack on a Sufi mosque in northern Sinai that killed 235 people and injured 109.

CNN reported that gunmen opened fire on people fleeing after several explosions at the al Rawdah mosque. They even fired at an ambulance before security forces arrived.

Victims of the attack lay scattered inside the church. Photo: EPA

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi vowed to retaliate against the terrorists. However, no organization or individual has claimed responsibility. Authorities say the incident bears the hallmarks of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS).

The al Rawdah Mosque is famous for being the birthplace of Sufi cleric Sheikh Eid al-Jariri, the founder of Sufiism in the Sinai Peninsula. Sufiism is a branch of Islam that its most radical followers consider heresy.

Witnesses said the attackers had even set up several "ambush" points and fired at ambulances as they evacuated the injured. They used automatic weapons.

State Funeral

The Egyptian government declared three days of national mourning.

In a brief televised address following an emergency meeting with security officials, President Sisi said: "We will respond to this act with devastating force against the terrorists. This act of terrorism only strengthens our resolve and determination to stand up and fight against terrorism."

President Sisi met with several senior ministers and affirmed his belief that Egypt would win the fight against terrorism.

Traces of IS

There is currently no information about the attackers.

Egyptian security forces face daily attacks from militant groups linked to ISIS, who have been operating in northern Sinai for years. However, attacks targeting mosques are relatively rare in Egypt.

In October 2015, 224 people died when a bomb ripped through a Russian plane over Sinai. The Egyptian branch of IS claimed responsibility.

The world condemns it.

Leaders of many countries have condemned the attack in Egypt.

President Donald Trump called it a "horrific and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless people" in Egypt. He stressed that terrorism and its ideology must be eradicated.

In a message, the White House also stated that "the international community must continue to strengthen efforts to eradicate terrorist groups that threaten the United States and our partners, and we must work together to prevent the extremist ideologies that give rise to their existence."

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson expressed his deep sorrow. He wrote on Twitter: "My deepest condolences to all those affected by such a barbaric act."

British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron also took to Twitter to offer their condolences to the victims, while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he prayed for all those affected.

On an official Jordanian royal account on Twitter, King Abdullah II condemned what he called "a heinous terrorist attack."

"We will stand alongside the Egyptians in their fight against terrorism, and against anyone who intends to harm Egypt's national security," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas affirmed in a statement.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged "the swift bringing of those responsible for today's horrific attack to justice."

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani wrote on Twitter: "Heartbroken for those killed in the cowardly massacre that took place in Egypt. These barbaric and hateful acts in the name of God are acts against God."

According to Vietnamnet.vn